Apply to the Trust Fund

The delegates programme covers the participation of a government official from LDCs and SIDS (see eligible States) in one of the three regular sessions of the Human Rights Council (HRC) that are held during the year, i.e. in February-March, June-July and September-October. The HRC meets in the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

Who can apply

As a rule, only government officials/civil servants from LDCs and SIDS who have been working in the field of human rights for at least one year, either in the capital or in their Permanent Mission in New York, are eligible to apply. Candidates may only apply to participate in one of the three regular HRC sessions held during the year.

Duration

The duration of the delegates programme for a given regular Council session coincides with the duration of that session (for session dates, see the following link). The full programme also includes a mandatory two-day induction course organized in Geneva by the Trust Fund Secretariat prior to the beginning of each regular session.

Scope of the financial coverage

Based on applicable United Nations rules and regulations, the Trust Fund covers one round-trip ticket in economy class per regular session per LDCs/SIDS and the daily subsistence allowance (DSA) payable to the selected delegate for the duration of the delegates programme in Geneva (not exceeding the duration of the regular session).

The Trust Fund does not cover health insurance costs or other expenses, including personal expenses, nor any expenses related to COVID-19 (medication, quarantine, etc.).

The delegate selected as a beneficiary of the Trust Fund is responsible for obtaining a visa (if required) and health insurance coverage. He/she is also responsible for arranging his/her own accommodation in Geneva and for covering related expenses. In that regard, a daily subsistence allowance, intended to cover lodging, meals and other expenses incurred during their mission in Geneva, will be paid to beneficiaries, in accordance with UN relevant rules and regulations.

How to apply?

Please refer to the note verbale on funding opportunities. Applications of government officials from interested LDCs/SIDS should be submitted through their Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office at Geneva. For countries that do not have a Permanent Mission in Geneva, the application should be submitted either by their Permanent Mission in New York or directly by the capital.

The application must indicate the Council session number (55^th, 56^th or 57^th) in which the delegate is designated to participate, if selected. The same delegate cannot be designated for more than one regular session.

The application for funding must comprise the following five (5) mandatory documents:

1. A note verbale endorsing the candidature of a government official (see sample);
2. The certificate of completion of the e-learning course tool on the Council developed by the LDCs/SIDS Trust Fund for LDCs/SIDS delegates participating in the work of HRC;
3. A legible scanned copy of the passport of the candidate (the passport must be valid for at least six months after his/her return to his/her home country or official duty station);
4. A detailed curriculum vitae in English or French (MS Word format);
5. A detailed curriculum vitae (CV) in English or French, in MS Word format; and
6. A completed Visa information form indicating whether the candidate needs a Schengen visa.

Only applications containing the five mandatory documents (see above) and submitted prior to the set deadlines (see below) will be accepted. Applications should be sent in one single email to ohchr-sidsldc@un.org and ohchr-registry@un.org, indicating in the subject line of the email LDCs/SIDS Delegates Programme HRC55 [or HRC56 or HRC57, as applicable] - name of country, name of delegate.

The attention of applicants is drawn to the fact that the delegates programme may be adjusted or cancelled due to the evolving situation of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing restrictions that may be imposed by the Swiss authorities and the United Nations Office at Geneva.

The attention of applicants is also drawn to the fact that all formal meetings of the Human Rights Council benefit from interpretation into the six official languages of the United Nations. However, informal consultations on draft resolutions, as well as side events organized on the margins of the HRC sessions, do not benefit from interpretation and are most often conducted in English.

Deadline for applications to participate in the 55th session, 56th session and the 57th session of the Human Rights Council:

NOTE: The call for applications for the LDCs/SIDS Trust Fund Fellowship Programme 2023 is now open (deadline 16 June 2023)

Calendar

The Fellowship programme runs once a year, from September to November. The dates of the Fellowship Programme enable the fellow to attend a regular HRC session in September, a session of the UPR Working Group in November, and relevant meetings of other human rights mechanisms.

Eligibility and qualifications

As a rule, only a government official/civil servant from a LDCs/SIDS who is based in his/her home country is eligible to apply. At the time of application, eligible candidates must fulfil the following requirements:

• An advanced university degree in law, political science, international relations or a related discipline. Significant relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree;
• A minimum of two years of working experience in the government of his/her home country in the field of human rights. Experience in intergovernmental processes is an advantage;
• Fluency in English or French. The attention of candidates is drawn to the fact that, while interpretation into the six UN official languages is provided during formal meetings of the Human Rights Council, informal meetings, including informal consultations on draft resolutions, are conducted without interpretation and normally in English only. Good working knowledge of English is therefore required.

Entitlements

Based on applicable United Nations rules and regulations, the Trust Fund covers the cost of a round-trip ticket in economy class.

The Trust Fund also provides financial support to the selected fellows in the form of a monthly stipend based on the current rate of UN DESA on UN Fellowships, for the duration of the fellowship programme. Fellows are not remunerated; the monthly stipend is intended to cover their basic living expenses (including accommodation) during the fellowship.

Application process

IMPORTANT: Applications from interested and qualified candidates must be submitted by their permanent mission to the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG). For LDCs/SIDS without a permanent mission accredited to UNOG, applications must be submitted either by their permanent mission in New York or directly by the capital.

Applications must comprise the following eight (8) mandatory documents:

• Application form (duly filled in and signed by the applicant);
• An official note verbale endorsing the candidature of a government official (sample note verbale);
• The certificate of completion of thee-learning course tool on the Human Rights Council for LDCs/SIDS delegates;
• A legible scanned copy of the passport of the designated candidate (the passport must be valid for at least six months after his/her return to the home country or official duty station);
• A detailed curriculum vitae (CV) in English or French, in MS Word format;
• A motivation letter (two pages maximum), explaining candidate’s interest in the fellowship programme, including how the candidate and his/her government would benefit from the programme and how the experience and knowledge gained by the fellow would be used in the context of his/her functions towards enhancing the country’s engagement with the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms;
• A completed “Visa information form” indicating whether the candidate needs a Schengen visa; and
• A photograph of the candidate in jpeg format.

Candidates must also commit to sharing the knowledge and experience gained during the programme with their colleagues in the government.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Only applications containing the eight mandatory documents (see above) and submitted by the deadline of 16 June 2023 will be accepted. Applications should be sent in one single email to ohchr-sidsldc@un.org and ohchr-registry@un.org, indicating in the subject line of the email: LDCs/SIDS Fellowship Programme 2023 - name of country, name of fellow.

THE ATTENTION OF APPLICANTS IS DRAWN TO THE FACT THAT THE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME MAY BE ADJUSTED OR CANCELLED DUE TO FINANCIAL, OPERATIONAL OR OTHER REASONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE SECRETARIAT OF THE LDCS/SIDS TRUST FUND.